Chapter 191: Fire and Ash Queen

Chapter 191: Fire and Ash Queen
Adira’s POV

Even so, I could hear the parasite's cry reverberating across the stars as my fire struck its centre.

I held both my and his fire in front of the parasite, but Ash's light was gone.

The parasite's throne loomed before me, alive, breathing, and changing.

The air grew thicker as I approached. The fire in my chest shook as if it didn't want to meet this area ever again. Hissing gently, shadows coiled themselves along the ground like snakes, whispering recollections I didn't want to hear. I was aware that this was a trap. I was aware that I was feigning surrender to approach and put an end to it.

But the darkness still notices when you pretend.

The voice of the parasite crept into my mind. "Little flame, you are already mine. Why fight it now?

As though I were about to kneel, I reached for the throne. I allowed the electricity that pulsed around me to encircle my neck and arms. I even allowed it to briefly touch my heart.

That's when it happened.

Cold, stinging black fire rushed into my skin. It curled through every part of me and surged up my veins. My silver hair moved. From the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of it, turning black, strand by strand.

I tried to draw away and said quietly, "No," but the infection spread quickly.

"You no longer need to tell lies," the parasite said quietly. "A part of me has always been inside of you. I'm merely arousing it.

I dropped to the stone floor. As the whispers became deeper, faster, and louder, I gripped my head. My ideas started sliding away, replaced by something colder… something ancient.

Then I was gone.

When I opened my eyes, I saw nothing but mirrors.

The room was filled with floating fragments of me—pain, memories, and decisions. Each of my incarnations flickered in the glass. Some people are strong. A few are broken. Some people are yelling. A few are grinning.

However, only one took a step forward.

She resembled me, but she was taller, darker, and wore armor composed of ash and flame. Her eyes were like upside-down stars, and her hair was dark.

She remarked, "You knew I was waiting."

I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out.

She went on, making a stately circuit around me, "You gave me the throne once before." "You pleaded with me to put out the fire and end the suffering. And I did. I gave us strength.

"You ruined everything," I stuttered.

She smiled. "Just the portions that caused us to become weak."

"I'm not you."

She smiled broadly. "However, I never went."

She held up her hand, and flame erupted in my direction.

When I defended myself by raising mine, the fire started. In mid-air, our flames fought, black against gold, and the world trembled.

I was internally and externally scorched. She existed in my history, in my soul, in my mind. She was well aware of me. She was now attempting to take the last pieces.

Then a voice cut through the silence.

It was supple.

Powerful.

Known.

"Ellarien."

My heart stopped beating.

That name... It had been a while since I had heard it.

Mirrors shuddered. My inner darkness flickered.

Spark number thirteen froze. "No."

My cheek began to water.

The voice called again, "Ellarien." "Return."

Ash.

He was present.

He emerged from the periphery of recollection, his body torn and cracked from the battle outside, his form flickering dimly. His voice was powerful, though. I met his eyes.

He approached me fearlessly.

He declared, "You are not the Thirteenth Spark." Ellarien is who you are. Flame Queen. My fire.

I looked at my reflection. "He recalls."

With a growl, the echo held up her hand once more. "He is unable to save you."

“No,” I said, rising. "I can save myself, though."

Ash's fingertips touched mine as he extended his hand.

Between us, light blazed.

A golden flame burst in the emptiness surrounding us.

Ash and I turned together, our powers melding—his faint but blazing ember and my silver fire.

Together, we hit the echo.

As the fire tore through the parasite's memory and stabbed her, she shrieked.

The mirrors broke. Cracked the black fire. The throne trembled.

In an attempt to maintain its shape, the parasite's voice screamed, but we were already destroying it from the inside out.

I observed the parasite's core, a black, throbbing mass located deep within its heart.

Ash took hold of my hand. "Now."

We threw our flames at it.

The centre broke.

The sky was consumed by a flash of light.

I was already falling, though.

My body deteriorating, I fell into the darkness as the parasite's core broke. And the last sound I heard was Ash's voice.